BOAH Insures Food and Animal Health Safety

(posted Aug 27)

The Indiana Board of Animal Health, located at 465 and 10th Street, oversees every aspect of milk production from time it leaves the cow until it reaches the retail level.

The inspection level is the same regardless if the farm has 10,000 or only three cows in production.

According to BOAH Public Information Officer Denise Derrer, the dairy industry is on the upswing in Indiana. Derrer cited a host of factors that are luring farmers into the business. Many dairy farmers are moving from the Southwest because of costly irrigation factors and the heat. Cows don't like heat. Cows prefer temperatures of 55 degrees or below. Indiana also has abundance of hay which is essential for milk production.

Another attractive feature is the interstate system. The milk haulers can reach two thirds of the United State within a day's drive. She also noted that many European dairy farmers are coming to the US to farm because of European dairy caps to keep prices milk high. She noted that some Netherlands farmers have located in Indiana because their government would not allow them to expand their dairy production by increasing the number of cows.

The demand for milk is up. Consumers insatiable appetite for latte coffees are increasing the demand for milk. "Lattes are seven parts milk to one part coffee." she said. Fair Oaks Farms, located in northwest Indiana, has a Starbuck's Coffee located at the dairy as part of its tourist center.

She said another trend is developing where the dairy farmer is also getting into the processing business. She said Trader's Point Creamery, located in Pike Township, processes its own milk instead of hauling it off to a local milk manufacturer like Kroger's, Edy's Ice Cream or Nestle's. She noted the BOAH inspects these facilities too. "Many people are not aware the Edy's Ice Cream is the second largest producer of ice cream in the world, and it's located in Ft. Wayne."

Derrer said the state is revising its pasteurized milk ordinance (PMO) to coincide with federal regulations. She explained the PMO regulates interstate standards for milk crossing the state line. The new regulations will not change milk prices.

The dairy industry has become a sophisticated technological business. Milk's shelf life is extending because of new technologies. Shelf life is dependent upon the pasteurizing process, not the synthetic hormones added to increase production. With new techniques, some milk no longer needs to be refrigerated, but often continues to be refrigerated for marketing purposes to meet consumer expectation that it should be cold.

Consumers are also driving to end the practice of using synthetic hormones in milk to increase production. She explained the synthetic hormones are safe and cannot be detected in the milk with the cow's natural hormones.

Milk's grade level depends upon how it is to be used. Drinkable milk is a Grade A, while milk designated to be used as cheese, ice cream and butter is labeled as grade manufacturing. She noted the farmer has to apply for the permit to specify how the milk is to be used.

The milk is inspected daily to make sure an unapproved antibiotic does not get in the milk supply. When a cow gets sick it still needs to be milked. Sometimes the milk is inadvertently not diverted from healthy milk and the antibiotic enters the food supply. She said the inspection is very detailed and includes looking for dirt, cob webs and inspecting the well water for contaminants. She noted the stainless steel bulk tanks are checked for protein build ups. A protein build up produces a film on the stainless steel that signifies it needs to be cleaned with the approved BOAH sanitizing methods because the stainless steel is exposed to the food surface. The milk hauler is also inspected for cleanliness and temperature.

BOAH veterinarians are also responsible for meat and poultry inspections. She noted the BOAH's budget is increasing, but not because of the Avian Flu scare that the media seized on. The BOAH has been monitoring the Avian Flu for 20 years, and the virus has over 160 variations. The H5N1 that created the pandemic scare is a genetic variation. "As to the media, where have you been the last 20 years?" she asked.

The public can protect themselves with proper food handling and cooking. Cooking meat properly will kill the pathogen. She said part of BOAH's function is to teach consumers proper food safety.

The BOAH is currently working with Department of Natural Resources to prevent viral hemorrhagic septicemia from infecting fish in Indiana. VHS has been detected in the small mouth bass in the Great Lakes. She explained Indiana's fish supply of stock ponds are not a big threat because this is not an aqua cultural state like Wisconsin, but the DNR is taking precaution to protect the fish in the streams and rivers. Many fishermen catch fish from the Great Lakes to breed in hatcheries for fishing contests, thus spreading the virus into other waters.

BOAH is also working with Homeland Security for emergency preparedness in case of a bio-terrorist act contaminates our food supply. Indiana was the first state in the nation to develop an Animal National Disaster Plan in 1994 to assist with animal care and live stock. The plan is to prevent as many as animals from being displaced and homeless. She explained that BOAH doesn't actually rescue the animals, but the agency works with communities to set up their own plan.